There is no where quite like London at Christmas – the city transforms into a Winter Wonderland of lights, markets, ice skating rinks, beautifully decorated shops and festive displays. For the last few years I’ve made it my goal to check out the very best experiences London has to offer over the festive period and since having Oscar and Noah (aged 6 and 2) I’ve tried my fair share of activities!
I’m now publishing my ultimate guide to Christmas in London with kids in 2025, I hope it’s useful to you!
Christmas Lights
My absolute favourite thing to do at Christmas time is to check out the Christmas decorations around the streets of London adorning the facades of shops, restaurants and hotels. This is a great thing to do and it’s absolutely free!
In Mayfair I recommend paying a trip to Bond Street where top designer stores have the best decorations check out Cartier, Dior, Tiffany’s, Louis Vuitton and Chanel.
On Regent Street you can see the famous angels which is a canopy of over 300,000 lights over the famous shopping street. On nearby Piccadilly, Fortnum and Mason is the star of the show and for the last few years has had a light up advent calendar as the star. Not too far away from Piccadilly you’ll get to Knightsbridge and see Harrods absolutely aglow with festive cheer!
You can see the sights for yourself, take a walking tour or a bus tour.
Covent Garden is a great place to check out decorations and there’s a massive Christmas tree plus the famous bells and sleigh. This year the Ever After Garden is in Chelsea, it’s stunning and all for charity!
One of the best facade is always famous private member’s club, Annabel’s in Berkeley Square so don’t forget to pay a visit!
Experiences
Winter Wonderland – Love it or hate it… I can go either way myself but Winter Wonderland in Hyde Park is one of London’s signature experiences here you’ll find Christmas markets, thrilling rides, Father Christmas’s Grotto, ice skating and shows. You can get free entry depending on the time that you visit.
Paddington Bear – We loved the Paddington Bear Experience and for Christmas the immersive experience on London’s South Bank will have a festive makeover with a Christmas Tree and festive treats.
Date: 11th Nov – 5th Jan
Age: All ages (2 + need a ticket)
Price: From £24
Wunderful World of Christmas – An immersive adventure to meet Santa and his elves.
Date: 8th Nov – 24th December
Age: 3 – 8
Price: From £17.50 child, £22.50 adult
Gingerbread City – An entire city built from Gingerbread! Make your own gingerbread houses too.
Date:29th Nov – 4th Jan
Age: All ages
Price: £13.50 per adult, £8.50 per child
Magical Train Rides
The Polar Express – a magical theatrical train ride based on the film. The train leaves from Euston Station. I already have this booked for this year but tickets are selling out fast!
Date: 29th Nov – 23rd Dec
Age: All ages
Price From £62.95 under 2s are £5
Steam Dreams Santa – Steam Express – 90-minute steam-hauled journey to meet Santa, enjoy festive entertainment for all the family. Every child receives a gift. Leaves from Victoria Station.
Date: 20th and 22nd December with different time slots.
Age All ages
Price From £55
Light Trails
Kew Gardens – the Christmas light trail is always a sell out – I’ve still never actually made it myself. There are large scale illuminations, light tunnels and a visit from Father Christmas. Tickets are available now.
Date: 14th Nov – 4th Jan
Age: All ages
Price: Children £18, Adults £27.50
Kenwood – Neverland at Kenwood. Follow Tinkerbell through a reimagined London for this immersive light trail.
Date: 21st Nov – 3rd Jan
Age: All ages
Price: Children £12 , Adults £20
Chelsea Light Trail – 1.5km light trail filled with large-scale art, interactive installations and soundscapes. The only light trail in central London.
Date: 26th Nov – 28th December
Age: All ages
Price: Children £5, Adults £15
Bus Tours
A great way to enjoy the lights of London is with a bus tour paired with a afternoon tea. This year there are so many great themes available including Peppa Pig, Paw Patrol, Paddington, Grinchmas and The Snowman. If you want to do the tour minus the tea, there’s the North Pole Express tour which gives the opportunity to meet Santa and enjoy a hot chocolate. Hamley’s are also running a Christmas Bus tour which will include some favourite children’s characters.
Ice Rinks
Glide at Battersea Power Station by Boots is my favourite ice rink and it’s become a tradition for us to go there on Christmas Eve. The backdrop of the Power Station and the view of the Thames is spectacular!
Date: 7th Nov – 4th January
Age: From age 3
Price: Children £13, Adults £21.44
Skate at Somerset House is another of London’s iconic ice rinks. Sponsored by Virgin Atlantic Holidays there are exclusive Skate sessions and a lounge-inspired Clubhouse with rink-side views.
Date: 12th Nov – 11th January
Age: From age 3
Price: Children £10, Adults £15
There is also Ice Rink Canary Wharf, located in the shadows of London’s sky scrapers, the brand new Skate Leicester Square, a pop-up skating venue in the middle of the famous square plus there are rinks at Winter Wonderland, The Queen’s House and Hampton Court Palace.
Shopping
You can’t go wrong with the big department stores. Harrods of course is THE department store to go to at Christmas and as well as stunning external decorations, there’s an amazing Christmas shop and toy department. The year Selfridge’s is Disney themed with a light show on the facade plus amazing festive windows, Mickey themed decorations, Disney pop-up shops, Disney themed afternoon tea and movies at Selfridges Cinema.
Fortnum and Mason and Liberty will all be beautifully decorated with beautiful Christmas shops too. Hamley’s is London’s biggest and best toy shop but we also love the LEGO store in Leicester – both get very crowded though!
Don’t forget about London’s famous arcades, The Burlington Arcade is historic and traditional (plus a great place to get a hot chocolate) and Royal Arcade and Piccadilly Arcade are also gorgeous with a luxurious festive atmosphere.
Many people love London’s Christmas Markets too and as well as Winter Wonderland you can find markets at London’s South Bank, Leicester Square and Old Spitalfields. Personally I like the small market at Trafalgar Square which also gives you the chance to see the famous Christmas Tree. Leadenhall is a historic market building and is also worth checking out. We also love Battersea Power Station for a quieter shopping experience and there is always Christmas activity there including markets, an ice rink, rides and in store activities.
Hotels
Something I love doing is checking out the facades of some of London’s most beautiful hotels but also nipping in for a glass of champagne or a festive themed afternoon tea and to admire the Christmas tree.
The Dorchester is somewhere very special with the most gorgeous towering Christmas tree. It’s very special to me as we had Christmas lunch there last year at the Grill Room but it is offered at multiple locations in the hotel. This year they are actually hosting Afternoon Tea and Story-telling with David Walliams.
Claridges – To many is the GOAT and every year the Christmas tree inside is made over by a famous designer. The festive menus and afternoon tea will be something very special.
The Langham Hotel – Actually has a partnership with Hamley’s London’s biggest and best toy store. They are hosting a Hamley’s grotto and a special Hamley’s inspired afternoon tea.
The Ritz – I always pay a visit as the decorations are gorgeous, but be aware they are strict on who that let in. Christmas meals and festive stays in absolute luxury are the order of the day at one of London’s most famous hotels.
The Savoy – Another hotel I often check out, and once I spent Christmas Day there. It’s a very special place and has a great location for shopping and the theatre.
The Goring, The Connaught, The Mandarin Oriental Knightsbridge, The Lanesborough, The Peninsula and The Four Seasons Park Lane are also all places that can be counted on for festive cheer.
Restaurants
There are lots of restaurants in London offering a large serving of Christmas cheer with fantastic decorations. Many of which are child-friendly.
The Ivy – The Ivy group always goes above and beyond and there will be festive menus and breakfast with Elves at selected locations. The set menu is 2 courses for £55 / 3 courses for £60, and each guest will receive an Ivy Christmas cracker. Sister restaurant group, Harry’s will also have extra special dishes on the menu.
Daphne’s – This luxurious restaurant is always decked out beautifully for Christmas.
Duck & Waffle – One of London’s tallest restaurants will be decked out as a wizard’s wonderland from the 12th November until 6th January with festive menus.
34 Mayfair – One of my favourite London restaurants is also beautiful at Christmas.
Sketch – Sketch always has some of the best decorations in town and the installation will be on from the 13th November until 5th January and this year the theme is apres ski!
Dalloway Terrace – This spot is always full of festive cheer and will have a festive children’s afternoon tea.
Brasserie of Light – The Selfridge’s restaurant becomes an Ice Palace for the festive season with a seasonal menu and Ice Palace dessert.
Sushi Samba – The Covent Garden restaurant and Heron Tower branch will be fully decked and serving festive menus between 12th November and 6th Jan.
Christmas Grottos
For me there’s nothing that sets the tone for Christmas quite like a visit to Santa’s grotto and these taking meeting the big man to a whole new level. With enchanted forests, snowy trails, storytelling and the chance to post your own letters to Father Christmas.
1. Anya’s Grotto: magical and fashionable expedition with Father Christmas.
Date: 15th Nov – 24th Dec
Age: 2 -8 years
Cost: £60 1 adult 1 child
2. Hamley’s: The Christmas Grotto at London’s most famous toy shop.
Date: 15th Nov – 24th Dec
Age: 2 – 8 years
Cost: From £65 for three people 3. John Lewis Oxford Street:
3. John Lewis and The LEGO® Group present Santa’s Enchanted Grotto.
Date: 27th Nov – 18th Dec
Age: All ages
Price: £25 per child (2.50 booking fee)
4. Chelsea Physic Garden Christmas storytelling in London’s oldest botanic garden. There is also a beautiful Christmas Fair from 27th – 29th November.
Date: Various Dates in December
Age: All ages
Price: £13 per child, £11 per adult
5. Meet Santa a London Zoo. VIP Breakfast session or take part in a Christmas quest with a Meet Santa Deluxe session in the new ZooTown play area.
Date: 22nd Nov – 24th Dec
Age: All ages
Price: £18.50 (prices vary depending on the experience)
6. Winter Wonderland: Make a pitstop at Santa’s grotto. This one is quite underwhelming but it is free!
Date: 14th Nov – 1st Jan
Age: All ages
Price: Free – not bookable walk in only.
7. Natural History Museum – Storytelling with Santa. Dinosaur in a jumper!
Date: Monday 1 – Sunday 21 December
Age: All ages
Price: £18.50
8. London Museum, Docklands – The Sailortown gallery decorated to meet Santa in his Dickensian-style grotto.
Date: 21st Nov – 23rd Dec
Age: All Ages
Price: From £14.50
9. London Transport Museum – Climb aboard an interactive sleigh, with buttons and bells and meet Santa.
Date: 27th Nov – 23rd Dec
Age: All ages
Price: Included with ticket price
10: Shrek the Halls at the Shrek Experience
Info is TBC
11. Santa’s Grotto at The Queen’s House – Nutcracker inspired grotto at former royal residence.
Date: 22nd Nov – 24th Dec
Age: All ages. Under 1s are free
Price: £27
12. Santa’s Grotto at FUJIFILM House of Photography in Covent Garden – An immersive experience with crafting, games and photo booths.
Date: 7th November – 24th December
Age: All ages
Price: £30 per child
13. Haven House Christmas Grotto – Much-loved Santa’s Grotto returns at Northfields Nursery in support of Haven House Children’s Hospice.
Date: 6th December – 22nd December
Age: All ages
Price: £15 per child
Also check out Alexandra Palace, Eltham Palace, Kenwood, Fulham Palace, Hobbledown Heath
Additional Activites at London Museums
The Postal Museum – Festive tunnel walks and Christmas display cases including greetings cards by Black Female Designers
Date: 4th Nov – 31st Dec
Age: All ages.
Price: £11 per child, adult £18.50
Museum of the Home – Christmas installation and winter market, wreath making.
Date: 18th Nov – 11th Jan
Age: All ages.
Price: Free entry some activities are an additional cost.
Discover Children’s Story Centre – Polar Express Festive Story telling, Elf Winter village, Festive Evening with Axel Scheffler.
Date: 24th Nov – 4th Jan
Age: All ages.
Price: Depends on selected activities
Shows
Here’s the very best in Christmas shows, music and carols for kids in London for 2025.
1. My Christmas Orchestral adventure at the Royal Albert Hall: Family-friendly classical Christmas Music. Help Father Christmas find his map.
Date: 7th December
Age: All ages
Price: £25
2. Raymond Briggs’ Father Christmas at Lyric Hammersmith Join Father Christmas as he prepares his deliveries, feeds his reindeer and takes flight into the night.
Date: 19th Nov – 27th Dec
Age: Under 6
Price: From £12
3. Jack and the Beanstalk at The Lyric Hammersmith – Fun panto as Jack faces the giant.
Date: 15th Nov – 4th Jan
Age: 6 +
Price: From £9
4. Bach to Baby – Classic concerts for baby with festive themes
Date: Various
Age: All ages
Price: £15
5. The Gruffalo’s Child – The much loved Julia Donaldson Tale at the Lyric Theatre
Date: 28th Nov – 11th Jan
Age: 3+
Price: From £10
5. The Snowman at the Peacock Theatre : The classic tale of a snowman that comes to life
Date: 22nd Nov – 4th Jan
Age: All ages (under 2s are free)
Price: From £31
6. Peppa Pig’s Big Family – Theatre Royal Haymarket with an appearance from Baby Evie
Date: 5th Dec – 4th Jan
Age: All ages
Price: From £10
7. The Polka Theatre – The Snowflake – Based on the timeless Christmas story by Benji Davies.
Date: 29th Nov – 25th Jan
Age: All ages but most suited to 3 – 6 years
Price: From £13
8. Elf the Musical – Based in the beloved film, Elf is the tale of buddy, a human raised as an elf at The Aldwych Theatre.
Date: Until 3rd Jan
Age: 5+
Price: From £39.50
9. Pincocchio at The Globe Theatre – an unmissable new musical version.
Date: 29th Nov – 4th Jan
Age: 5+
Price: From £10
10. Stickman at Bloomsbury Theatre – a brilliantly fun adaptation of the Julia Donaldson book.
Date: 4th Dec – 4th Jan
Age: all ages
Price: From 17.50
11. Sleeping Beauty Pantomime at the London Palladium – The West End’s biggest Christmas theatre show.
Date: 6th Dec – 11th Jan
Age: 4+ (under 4’s will not be admitted). Parental discretion – lots of innuendo!
Price: From £39.50
12. Father Christmas Needs a Wee at the Arts Theatre. A fun musical adaptation of Nicholas Allan’s much loved book.
Date: 6th – 24th Dec
Age: 3+
Price: From £27.72
13. How does Santa Go Down the Chimney – at The Unicorn Theatre.
Date:15th Nov – 3rd Jan
Age: 2 +
Price: Children £14.50
14. Disney on Ice – the theme is find your hero at the O2
Date: There are shows throughout the UK from November to January
Age: All ages. Under 2 free.
Price: From £44
15. Greenwich Theatre: Peter Pan – A Pantomime Adventure Join Peter Pan, Wendy and Tinker Bell as they outwit Hook
Date: 28th Nov – 11th Jan
Age: All Ages
Price: Child £21.50
16. Bluey’s Big Play Bluey, Bingo, Bandit and Chilli in a live show at The South Bank Centre
Date: 18th Dec – 11th Jan
Age: All Ages
Price: Child £17
16. The Nutcracker at The London Coliseum– Join Clara on a fantastical adventure at the English National Ballet’s Nutcracker with 100 dancers and musicians.
Date: 11th December – 11th Jan
Age: 5 + but there is a family day on 3rd of Jan for under 5s.
Price: From £15
17. Christmas by Candlelight – The talented Belmont Voices, Trafalgar Singers and Covent Garden Carollers give a series of beautiful performances.
Date: 5th December – 27th December
Age: All ages
Price: From £22
18. Maddie Moate’s Very Curious Christmas – Beloved children’s TV presenter Maddie Moate in her West End debut with a festive STEM adventure.
Date: 12th December – 4th Jan
Age: 4 +
Price: From £21
19. Little Angel Theatre
Me… The tale of a tiny baby penguin
Date: 15th November – 25th Jan
Age: 2 -5 years
Price: Adult £17, child £15
The Storm Whale – Children’s stories of friendship, love and courage.
Date: 22nd November – 24th Jan
Age: 4 -8 years
Price: Adult £8.50, child £8.50
20. A Merry Misrule at Battersea Arts Centre – Enter an immersive, theatrical trail, meeting new characters, and learning about Yuletide traditions.
Date: 29th Nov – 24th Dec
Age: 3 +
Price: From £15
21. Family Christmas Carols with Little London Music School – Suitable for babies, toddlers, school aged children and their families. An afternoon of Christmas Carols and Songs.
Date: 12th Dec in Notting Hill and 19th December in Knightsbridge
Age: All Ages.
Price: From £10
Less Than Two Hours From London
Hogwarts in the Snow at the Harry Potter Studios. The Great Hall will be transformed into scenes from the Yule Ball
Date: 15th Nov- 18th Jan
Age: Under 4s free
Price From £56
Lapland UK – Probably the hottest ticket in the UK now in London and Manchester. General tickets are sold out but there are still tickets available for the Golden Experience, which is the most premium experience.
Date: 8th Nov – 24th Dec
Age: All ages (groups must include at least one child)
Price: From £299 per person under 1s go free.
Blenheim Palace – There’s lots on at Blenheim Palace. An illuminated light trail, an adventure through the State rooms at The Palace of Oz, inspired The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, a Christmas Market, afternoon tea and ice skating.
Date: 14th Nov- 3rd Jan
Age: All ages
Price: Prices vary
Legoland – There’s so much fun to be had at Legoland Windsor including a giant Duplo Christmas tree, meeting Father Christmas and lots of other activities.
Date: 22nd Nov- 3rd Jan
Age: All ages
Price: £34
Chessington World of Adventures – Winter’s Tail. A festive and thrilling day out at this theme park and zoo. Including Santa’s grotto, panto, light trails and carolling.
Date: 22nd Nov- 31st Dec
Age: All ages
Price: £22
Willow Farm – Grotto, festive funfair rides, festive shows, teddy bear work shop, meet reindeer and more.
Date: Nov – Dec
Age: All ages
Price: From 49.95
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